<p>I applied early decision, and I received an email from admissions telling me that they received everything required. They listed these items: the Common Application, William & Mary Supplement, application fee, test scores and high school transcript.</p>
<p>I noticed that recommendations isn't listed. This looks like an automated email, and I think everything was sent together, so I think its fine. But is it possible they didn't list recommendations because they didn't receive them? Thanks.</p>
<p>I guess the recommendations were part of the common app because I had to print out the recommendation forms from the common app website. But the recommendations were sent by mail and the rest of my common app was sent online.</p>
<p>During my visit, the lady leading the tour was adamant about not sending in a teacher rec, they said they only wanted a counselor rec and didn’t want to waste time reading teacher recs. I’m not exactly sure if this is the official policy for WM, but I didn’t bother to send one.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’ve got a great excuse to call the admissions office! However, I do remember the admissions rep saying that all they needed was the counselor’s rec. She even seemed irritated about having to read all the recommendations. My daughter and I made a note to keep recs light.</p>
<p>I only WANTED to send two, but my parents wanted me to get one of my recommendations from the delegate that represents the area in which W&M is located for VA. He’s a close family friend, and it was easy enough to get, and an alma mater, so I thought - hey, why not? But now I’m worried.</p>
<p>I only sent in one rec. I wanted to give a view from a teacher, who knows me personally, in addition to my GC, who barely gets to know any of the students. </p>
<p>Anyway, my recs and transcripts and everything were sent online with the rest of the Common App, so I guess that’s all included. </p>
<p>(BTW, am I the only one who received this email more than once?)</p>
<p>I just found my answer under the FAQ section on the WM website. It says they only require counselor recs and others are optional, and they don’t notify you on whether they received the recs or not. So I guess my email was normal.</p>
<p>and yes Rixs, i recieved the email three times. Not entirely sure why three. I did send in my math sat score from October later, so i can understand two times. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.</p>
<p>Because letters of recommendation are optional (beyond the secondary school report completed by the guidance counselor) William & Mary does not track them (and cannot given the number received). Therefore it is not considered a required component (i.e. applications can be completed without them) and the email you received means all the required components have been received and your application can go out for review.</p>
<p>Generally, W&M likes to see one letter beyond that from your counselor. A teacher of an academic subject is preferred. Deans will read additional letters but given that each of 12,000 applications is read twice, all applicants should be thoughtful in not sending too many.</p>
<p>Letters from delegates or anyone else of prominence are weighed based on the substance of the letter. If the letter adds new information about the student than it can be helpful in making a decision. If the letter is somewhat form-like it’s still considered but may not lend any new information to the application.</p>
<p>Wow, I wish I’d known that. I have contributed to my delegate’s campaign and he could have written a letter on my behalf of my D. You learn something everyday! And here I was cynical about these letters from elected officials.</p>
<p>They should be tossed out in my opinion. A delegate’s, or any other elected official’s, opinion of a student is no more relevant than the student’s uncle Bob or the mailman. There is certainly nothing inherent in being a delegate that makes him or her any better judge of whether the school should accept someone. A letter from a politician is for the sake of politics. They should be recognized as such and disallowed.</p>
<p>Edited to add - it is entirely inappropriate for a student to learn of an acceptance from a political contact. If that happened, it should be addressed and someone should be reprimanded.</p>